to talk a little bit about the fiscal cliff and that's something we've all been talking about recently, and what it means for us right now and the year ahead. we also have other business news. we'll get back to the president by the way if and when we get that feedback. he will be taking questions from the audience there of business leaders as gregg mentioned. elizabeth mcdonald ever the fox business network is standing by list toning some of what the president had to say about the economy. liz, can you place it in context about where our economy is right now. >> reporter: the president just now was placing it in the -- the economy in the broader context of what is going on in the world, mentioning asia, mentioning europe, and then he turned to what was the most important part of the speech, he started to speak and that is what is holding us back ironically is stuff that is going on in this town, and he also, the president also said, no one wants to get a deal done more than me. so he's trying to essentially give some encouragement to get the fiscal cliff deal talks ignited and

sequestration. even if we go over the fiscal cliff those benefits will still be paid out even if lawmakers don't reach a deal. senator sessions did try to pass something in the senate that would have put food stamps on the table for the fiscal cliff negotiations and failed in the senate. jenna: let me ask you that is it part of the fiscal cliff negotiations or are food stamps in their own column right now? >> reporter: he tried. it is considered an entitlement program so it has to be funded. he did try to get the specific measure passed in the senate and it failed. jenna: any response from the administration on this? >> reporter: we reached out to the white house on this and want to give them opportunity to explain or comment on the fact under president's first term food stamps are up 39%. amount of americans dependent on them. the white house directed us to the u.s. department of agriculture and oversees this program and other similar programs. here is what they told us. the increase in snap participation during the 2008 and 2010 pared of economic decline which include the recent recession was consistent during increase in previous periods of economic d

the table if we're going to have a big deal in this fiscal cliff matter. jon? jon: on the democratic side it seems like they are holding firm on being sure that there is additional tax revenue in any fiscal cliff deal, right? >> jon, no question about that. they have been consistent from the very beginning. the president ran on the upper income americans paying more taxes as part of this deal. we heard more from chuck schumer on "fox news sunday". >> we democrats realize that there have to be two sides to this bargain but we're not going back to what we did in 2011. we both revenues and cuts on the table and ended up with just getting cuts because the other side wouldn't accept the revenues. >> reporter: a lot of folks on both sides feel like this is critical week. we're getting close to the end of the year. you need to give lawmakers a chance to put whatever deal it nice legislative language and sell to constituents and ultimately vote on it and hopefully send it to the president's desk. jon. jon: we'll see what happens. not a lot of time left. mike emanuel, thank you. jenna: anothe